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<blockquote data-quote="Glamdring" data-source="post: 207162" data-attributes="member: 4835">Novels, 3E changes, and the role of the DM.Wow.&nbsp; So much to say.&nbsp; Let me begin by saying that any skilled DM realizes the dire importance of reading before trying to run a game.&nbsp; If a DM wishes to enter the world of Faerun, he or she must read the novels and accept them as scripture, not only to honor the authors, but to create a solid, almost tangible gaming experience.&nbsp; He or she must know who the Chosen are, who Alusair and Vangerdahast are, who Elminster is, who the enemies of the good races are, and how the realm works.&nbsp; One must have a feel for Faerun, and this doesn't come with the PHB, the DMG, or even the FRCS.&nbsp; Why do I say this?&nbsp; Because a good FR DM will encourage his or her players to read the novels, allowing them to make the connections between the game and the books.&nbsp; It's a marvelous thing when players encounter Shadowdale at the gaming table, and then take up books like Spellfire and see the similarities.&nbsp; It makes reading them more fun, and it makes gaming a more tangible experience, as I said before.What does this mean?&nbsp; This means that, even though 3E mentions nothing about drow equipment eventually crumbling in sunlight, it still happens.&nbsp; There are many, many, many FR novels that detail how drow equipment crumbles in sunlight.&nbsp; How on earth can a compitent DM discount this information simply because 3E forgot to cover it?&nbsp; And how will players react when they read the Dark Elf trilogy and wonder why their DM allows them to use drow equipment in broad daylight?&nbsp; They may say to themselves, &quot;Jeez, I'm sure glad my +4 drow sword still works,&quot; but such comments come from a gaming table where material possessions and magical items are the only thing anyone fights for.&nbsp; Intelligent individuals will say, &quot;Hmmmm, someone hasn't done his research,&quot; and the magic of the game is what crumbles.&nbsp; Not good.3E is not something that totally replaces 2E.&nbsp; 3E is indeed a patch for 2E, and that patch has created massive contradictions.&nbsp; All of a sudden drow equipment doesn't crumble in sunlight.&nbsp; How on Toril did this happen?&nbsp; Another example is infravision.&nbsp; What happened to infravision?&nbsp; Are we supposed to believe that there was some titanic clash in the heavens of Toril, rearranging the very fabric of reality, randomly changing things here and there?&nbsp; It is these contradictions that the DM must struggle with.&nbsp; An annoying player asks, &quot;Uh, what's up with the Dark Elf Trilogy?&nbsp; Drow society is strongly based on infravision.&nbsp; How do the dark elves tell time by Narbondel if they, all of a sudden, with no explanation, are now using darkvision?&quot;&nbsp; Darkvision is not infravision, and the new rules create confusion.&nbsp; This is but one example of how the 3E &quot;patch&quot; throws a wrench into the game.&nbsp; In Salvatore's next novel, how will he deal with darkvision?&nbsp; His heat stones will mean nothing, Narbondel is now useless, Drizzt won't be able to track by the heat of his prey's footfalls, and the world that is the Underdark is changed forever.&nbsp; Just one of many mistakes made by the creators of 3E.By and large, the novels contain the most (and best) information for any novel-based campaign (DL or FR).&nbsp; The DM must be in character as much as the players.&nbsp; If he or she isn't, the players will notice, and they might not have as much fun as they should.&nbsp; If the players don't notice, then everyone at the table is an idiot, and may Mystra have mercy on their souls.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Glamdring, post: 207162, member: 4835"] [b]Novels, 3E changes, and the role of the DM.[/b] Wow. So much to say. Let me begin by saying that any skilled DM realizes the dire importance of reading before trying to run a game. If a DM wishes to enter the world of Faerun, he or she must read the novels and accept them as scripture, not only to honor the authors, but to create a solid, almost tangible gaming experience. He or she must know who the Chosen are, who Alusair and Vangerdahast are, who Elminster is, who the enemies of the good races are, and how the realm works. One must have a feel for Faerun, and this doesn't come with the PHB, the DMG, or even the FRCS. Why do I say this? Because a good FR DM will encourage his or her players to read the novels, allowing them to make the connections between the game and the books. It's a marvelous thing when players encounter Shadowdale at the gaming table, and then take up books like Spellfire and see the similarities. It makes reading them more fun, and it makes gaming a more tangible experience, as I said before. What does this mean? This means that, even though 3E mentions nothing about drow equipment eventually crumbling in sunlight, it still happens. There are many, many, many FR novels that detail how drow equipment crumbles in sunlight. How on earth can a compitent DM discount this information simply because 3E forgot to cover it? And how will players react when they read the Dark Elf trilogy and wonder why their DM allows them to use drow equipment in broad daylight? They may say to themselves, "Jeez, I'm sure glad my +4 drow sword still works," but such comments come from a gaming table where material possessions and magical items are the only thing anyone fights for. Intelligent individuals will say, "Hmmmm, someone hasn't done his research," and the magic of the game is what crumbles. Not good. 3E is not something that totally replaces 2E. 3E is indeed a patch for 2E, and that patch has created massive contradictions. All of a sudden drow equipment doesn't crumble in sunlight. How on Toril did this happen? Another example is infravision. What happened to infravision? Are we supposed to believe that there was some titanic clash in the heavens of Toril, rearranging the very fabric of reality, randomly changing things here and there? It is these contradictions that the DM must struggle with. An annoying player asks, "Uh, what's up with the Dark Elf Trilogy? Drow society is strongly based on infravision. How do the dark elves tell time by Narbondel if they, all of a sudden, with no explanation, are now using darkvision?" Darkvision is not infravision, and the new rules create confusion. This is but one example of how the 3E "patch" throws a wrench into the game. In Salvatore's next novel, how will he deal with darkvision? His heat stones will mean nothing, Narbondel is now useless, Drizzt won't be able to track by the heat of his prey's footfalls, and the world that is the Underdark is changed forever. Just one of many mistakes made by the creators of 3E. By and large, the novels contain the most (and best) information for any novel-based campaign (DL or FR). The DM must be in character as much as the players. If he or she isn't, the players will notice, and they might not have as much fun as they should. If the players don't notice, then everyone at the table is an idiot, and may Mystra have mercy on their souls. [/QUOTE]

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